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Why does the mind wander?

Joshua Shepherd1,2

  • 1Department of Philosophy, Carleton University, 3A61 Paterson Hall, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S5B6, Canada.

Neuroscience of Consciousness
|October 29, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mind wandering episodes may stem from non-conscious cognitive control guiding goal-seeking behavior. This cognitive control proposal suggests mind wandering occurs when current goals lack reward, prompting a search for better ones.

Keywords:
agencycognitive controlintentionmind wanderingvolition

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Philosophy of Mind

Background:

  • Mind wandering is a common human experience.
  • Existing theories do not fully explain its etiology or function.
  • Cognitive control is crucial for goal-directed behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a novel explanation for the etiology and function of mind wandering.
  • To introduce the "cognitive control proposal" for mind wandering.
  • To explore the implications of this proposal for cognitive science and philosophy.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical development of the cognitive control proposal.
  • Integration with existing literature on mind wandering and cognitive control.
  • Discussion of explanatory power, testable predictions, and philosophical implications.

Main Results:

  • Mind wandering is proposed as a non-conscious guidance mechanism.
  • It is triggered when current goals are insufficiently rewarding.
  • The process involves the cognitive control system initiating a search for more rewarding goals.

Conclusions:

  • The cognitive control proposal offers a unified explanation for mind wandering.
  • It provides a framework for future empirical research.
  • The proposal has significant implications for understanding consciousness and goal pursuit.